The rise and rise of Narendra Modi

Fri Sep 13 2013, 18:35 hrs

Born on September 17, 1950 in the other backward class (OBC) middle-class family at Vadnagar, Narendra Modi was the third of six children of Damodardas Mulchand Modi and Heeraben. (Express archive photo)

Modi has been keenly associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) since long. (express archive photo)

Narendra Modi seen here with then supremo of Shiv Sena late Balasaheb Thackeray in Mumbai. (Express archive photo)

He was handed the baton for Gujarat in the late 90s by party leader LK Advani to spearhead the election campaign in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh."Madan Lal Khurana, Krishan Lal Sharma, Sahib Singh Verma, Lal Krishan Advani, Kedar Nath Sawhney and Narendra Modi leading the Swarn Jayanti Rath Yatra which commenced on July 15 1997. (Express archive photo)

Modi became the chief minister of Gujarat in October 2001, promoted to the office at a time when his predecessor Keshubhai Patel had resigned, following the defeat of BJP in the by-elections. (Express archive photo)

Modi is also accused of shielding those responsible for allegedly instigating violence in the Gujarat carnage. Narendra Modi seen here with then Pime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. (Express archive photo)

Though his protegee, LK Advani vehemently opposed Modi's announcement as the prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. L K Advani and Narendra Modi after the Riots of 92 in Surat. (Express archive photo)